In-line package capping apparatus

ABSTRACT

In-line apparatus for continuously forming produce packages for marketing comprising support means upon which containers filled with produce are individually deposited, accumulated, advanced and transferred to conveyor means for moving each container to successive stations of operation to form a completed package, said successive stations including a cover applying station, first gluing station, a first glue setting station, a container rotating station, a second gluing station, and a second glue setting station. Each of said gluing stations including means for applying glue to laterally projecting tab portions of each cap and means for folding the lateral portions of the cap against adjacent sides of the container associated therewith. Each of said glue setting stations including means for yieldably compressing the lateral portions of the cap firmly against the sides of the container.

United States. Patent 1191 Baker IN-LINE PACKAGE CAPPING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Leroy D. Baker, Morris, [11.

[73] Assignee: Diamond International Corporation,

New York, NY.

[22] Filed: May 19, 1972 [21] Appl. No: 254,904

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser, No. 198,866, Nov. 15,

[52] US. Cl 53/287, 53/333, 53/387 [51] Int. Cl B65b 7/28 [58] Field of Search 53/38, 41, 44, 329, 307, 53/287, 333, 387, 378, 282, 306, 374, 389, 290, 244, 247, 303; 198/33 AB, 190, 20 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,998,842 4/1935 Mosley et al 198/20 R 2,584,925 2/1952 Rideout 53/287 2,669,167 2/1954 Behl 53/374 X 2,998,685 9/1961 Ganz 53/389 X 3,099,906 8/1963 McCabe et al. 53/244 X 3,128,868 4/1964 Bowen 198/33 AB 3,307,328 3/1967 Rowekamp 53/247 3,374,604 3/1968 Roesner et a1 53/374 X 3 39 l 16 8 B 2 Q June 18, 1974 3,516,227 6/1970 Baker et a1. ..53/3s7x 3,634,995 1/1972 Curtis ..53/3s7x 3,688,472 9/1972 116mm; ..s3/3s9x Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner.Horace M. Culver Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Karl W. Flocks [5 7] ABSTRACT ln-line apparatus for continuously forming produce packages for marketing comprising support means upon which containers filled with produce are individually deposited, accumulated, advanced and transferred to conveyor means for moving each container to successive stations of operation to form a completed package, said successive stations including a cover applying station, first gluing station, a first glue setting station, a container rotating station, a second gluing station, and a second glue setting station. Each of said gluing stations including means for applying glue to laterally projecting tab portions of each cap and means for folding the lateral portions of the cap against adjacent sides of the container associated therewith. Each of said glue setting stations including means for yieldably compressing the lateral portions of the cap firmly against the sides of the container.

19 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN I8 1914 3 8 1 61973 sum 1 or 5 PATENTEDJuM 18 m4 3.816373 SHEET 2 BF 5 PATENTEU HH IBH 3,816,973

' SHEEI 3 OF 5 PATENTEDJUN x 8 m"- SHEU u [IF 5 FIG. /0.

1 IN-LINE PACKAGE CAPPING APPARATUS This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser. No. 198,866 filed Nov. 15, 1971.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART Apparatus for applying caps to produce containers to form marketable packages of the type for which applicant seeks patent protection is exemplified by the construction disclosed in the U.S. Pats. to Borchert, Nos. 1,913,743; Hammond, 2,595,849; Mueller, 3,487,622; Bennert et al., 3,412,526 and Baker et al., 3,516,227. In both the Borchert and the Hammond patents the capping operation is carried out by pressing the cap member partially into the opening of the container member. The Bennert et al apparatus includes means for performing a lid with locking tab members, placing the lid over a carton provided with slits into which the locking tab members are inserted. The Mueller patent relates to an apparatus for applying a cover to a container by pressing the cover into the container while compressing the side of the container to expel the air entrapped between the cover of the container and food product contained therein. The Baker et al. patent relates to an apparatus for locating a container member beneath an indexed blank cover member to which glue is applied: to the edges thereof and. moving the container up to the lid member and together against a closing member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Although the apparatus according to this invention may be used to efficiently form completed packages of any product in commerce by applying caps to containers, the advantages afforded thereby are especially desirable in the packaging of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and the like, which are highly perishable in the normal environs after picking and must be expeditiously packaged to avoid losses due to spoilage. The apparatus according to this invention also forms a neat and attractive package and at the same time more gently applies a cap to each container without crushing or causing other damage to the product in the containers than apparatuses of this type heretofore known. Fruits, vegetables, nuts and candy are other examples of produce which may be the contents of the package formed on the apparatus according to this invention.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The primary object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for forming a completed package in which individual containers filled with produce are moved along a series of areas of operation including cap dispensing means, glue applying means, cap folding means, and cap compressing means which cooperate to form the completed package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and looking at the back side of the view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing details of an accumulating station, a portion of a cover applying station with a control gate therebetween;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing details of a cap conveyor gripping with its jaws opened a cap portion received therein;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective showing details of the power train, the glue applying wheels and the pressure applying belt members;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the plane of 7 7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the plane of 8 8 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the cap in FIG. 8 showing glue on side tab portions of the cap;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the plane of 10 10 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the plane of 11 11 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line of 12 12 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the plane of 13 13in FIG. 2;

FIG. 13A is an enlarged fragmentary view showing details of a cap conveyor with its gripping jaw elements open to release a cap portion therefrom;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the cap in FIG. 15 showing glue on side tab portions of the cap;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along the plane of 15 15 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along the plane of 16 16 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the novel packaging and capping apparatus in accordance with this invention is generally shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The apparatus according to the present invention is generally designated 10 and includes longitudinally extending parallel main support channel plates l2, 14 with a recess 13 therebetween. Support plates l2, 14 are fixedly secured to main carriage 15 and auxiliary carriage 15. A second pair of parallel support channel plates 16, 18 are also fixedly secured to main carriage 15 with a recess 20 therebetween and spaced above plates 12, 14. Fixedly disposed in the recess 13 are a pair of longitudinally extending support rails 22. Also disposed within the recess 13 are a pair of endless driven V-belts 23 with the upper runs thereof slightly above the upper surface of rails 22. The V-belts 23 as shown in FIG. 3 are outboard of the rails 22. A pair of laterally spaced guide rails 24 extend a short distance above the support plates 12, 14 and longitudinally thereof. Toward the downstream end of the V-belts 23, the continuity of support rails 22 is interrupted by a control gate 25 as best seen in FIG. 4. The gate 25 is mounted to oscillate between an up [closed] position and a down [open] position. This gate 25 is driven in timed relationship by drive assembly 27 which, as seen in FIG. 2, includes rotary disc 29, crank 31, link 33 and pin 35 to which the gate 25 is fixedly secured. Operation of gate 25 controls the individual passage of accuposite sides thereof. Conveyor chain 28 is provided with a plurality of spaced apart pusher elements one of which is shown in FIG. 4. Secured to upper support plates l6, l8 and disposed within recess 20 is a downwardly directed, inclined magazine M, which constitutes a supply source of cap members C. Pivotally secured on support plates 16, 18 on opposite sides of the recess 20 and for operation thereover is a cap dispensing and feeder mechanism 32. Cap dispensing and feeder mechanism 32 is driven in timed relationship with conveyor chain 28 by drive assembly 33 which includes rotary disc 35, crank 37, link 39, and pin 41. Extending forwardly of the magazine M and above and generally parallel to container conveyor chain 28 is a cap conveying chain 34. The cap conveying chain 34 comprises a plurality of alternately spaced cap gripper assemblies 42 and cap pressing foam pads 48. Chain 34 is driven by wheels 36 and 38 in timed relationship with drive assembly 33' of feeder mechanism 32 so that a cap C indexed over a container B is gripped by open jaws 43, 45 on chain 34 and pulled along at the same speed the container B is pushed along by conveyor chain 28. Fixedly mounted adjacent one side of drive wheel 36, but independent thereof is a cam 40 projecting in the path of the follower members 44 of gripper assembly 42. Engagement of follower member 44 with cam 40 spreads the jaws 43, 45 of gripper assembly 42 in opposition to the closing effort of spring 46 as clearly seen in FIG. 5. Fixedly secured on one face of drive wheel 38 are a plurality of spaced ramps 47 which open jaws 43, 45 upon engagement therewith of follower member 44, as shown in FIG. 13A.

Adjacent the upstream end of conveyor chain 28 and in the path of containers B is disposed a switch 29 for controlling an electric valve of a vacuum supply line. Actuation of this switch 29 by a passing container produces a vacuum at suction feeder mechanism 32 to remove a cap C from magazine M. A second switch (not shown in detail) is operable upon contact by the feeder mechanism 32 as the latter positions the cap C over a container B to release the vacuum of the feeder mechanism 32.

A first glue station 50 comprising wells 52 on opposite sides of the recess 13 are secured on plates l2, l4 downstream of the point where a cap C is indexed over a container B. Each well 52, as shown in FIG. 8, includes a chamber having hot melt glue G therein, with a rotating glue applying wheel 54 therein, and a pressure wheel 58 cooperating with the glue wheel 54. Each glue wheel 54, as shown in FIG. 6 is attached to a shaft 56 deriving its drive from sprocket 59, chain 60, and sprocket assembly 61. Sprocket assembly 61 comprises input sprocket 62, drive disc 66, driven disc 68, thrust bearing 70 and pressure spring 72 all mounted on input drive shaft 64 at the reduced diameter portion 65 thereof. Drive disc 66 is fixedly secured to shaft 64 with sprocket 62 rotatably mounted on shaft 64. Sprocket 62 prior to being mounted on shaft 64 is secured to driven disc 68, as by pressing sleeve extensions of one into the other, for example. Drive from shaft 64 to sprocket 62 is produced by frictional contact of driven disc 68 with driving disc 64 as a result of pressure of spring 72 bearing against thrust bearing 70. The pressure exerted by spring 72 is adjustable and is desirably set to allow slippage between drive disc 66 and driven disc 68, which is of fibrous material, in the event glue in the wells 52 is solidified.

Downstream from glue wells 52 are a pair of beveled rollers 74 as shown in FIG. 10 for folding laterally projecting tab portions F with glue applied to the underside thereof. Downstream from beveled rollers 74 is a first drying zone 75, which is generally in line with conveyor chain 28 and V-belts 23. Disposed in drying zone 75 are a pair of endless drive belts 76, as shown in detail in FIGS. 6, l1 and 12. The belts 76 extend in a generally horizontal plane and around grooved pulleys 78 mounted on driven shafts 80, the lower ends of which have driven bevel gears 82 thereon. Bevel gears 82 in turn are driven by gears 84 on drive shaft 64. Shaft 64 has mounted thereon adjacent to its opposite ends drive sprocket 65 and chain 67 and driven sprocket 65 and chain 67.

The belts 76 are preferably circular in cross section and include inner runs between which containers B having caps C with partially folded side tab portions F are passed. As containers B are passed between belts 76 the inner runs thereof yieldably press the side tab portions F against the adjacent sides of the containers. A plurality of longitudinally spaced tension pulleys 86 are provided which are resiliently urged against the inner runs of the belts 76 whereby a constant, but yieldable pressure is applied to the sides of the containers and folded cap portions passing therebetween over a substantial distance over which the glue may set. Each tension pulley 86 may be mounted for rotation on a guide pin 88 adapted to extend in a slot 90 of a cover plate and urged by a spring 92 toward the path of passing containers.

Downstream from the first drying zone 75 container conveyor chain 28 and cap conveyor chain 34 make their return runs around the respective wheels around which they are trained and support rails 22 terminate. Starting just slightly downstream of the ends of support rails 22 is a flat conveyor belt 94 trained over rollers 95, 96 and onto which containers B may be discharged by conveyor chain 28.

At the upstream end of belt 94 are a pair of guide rails 124, 124 extending intermediate the height of passing containers, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 13. Guide rail 124 comprises a straight main portion with a finger block 125 secured thereto and extending into the path of passing containers. Guide rail 124 has straight main portions with an arcuate portion 125 bowed out of the normal path of passing containers. Finger block 125 and arcuate portion 125' are disposed opposite each other whereby passing containers upon striking finger block 125 may be deflected toward arcuate portion 125' and consequently rotated 90 so that forwardly and rearwardly projecting tab portions F of caps C are shifted to project laterally of the apparatus and subsequently advanced to and processed through a second gluing station 150, details of which are similar to those of first gluing station 50 and with similar parts being designated by similar reference numbers increased by the antescript 100.

Finally, a second drying zone 175 is provided through which the containers B may be processed in the manner that they were processed through first drying zone 75. The second drying zone 175 is also similar to first drying zone 75 with similar details thereof being designated by similar reference numbers increased by the antescript 100. One notable difference between the first gluing zone 50 and the second gluing zone is that the latter is not provided with a cap conveyor since two tab portions F of the caps are at this stage secured to the adjacent sides of the containers.

According to the foregoing description, a packaging apparatus is provided with a plurality of processing stations all generally in line including an accumulating station, a cap applying station, first gluing and drying stations and second gluing and drying stations.

In operation of the apparatus 10 according to this invention, filled containers B may be deposited on support rails 22 and V'belts 23 between side guide rails 24 and advanced in the direction of the arrow as shown on the left in FIG. 1 until they are restrained by gate 25. Control gate 25 is periodically oscillated to the phantom position shown in FIG. 3 to admit one container B for transfer to conveyor 28. Chain 28, which is provided with spaced apart pushers is driven in timed relationship with gate 25 so that pushers 30 approach the trailing portion of containers transferred to chain 28 to smoothly perform the conveying operation. Upon being transferred onto conveyor chain 28 each container B is advanced into contact with switch 29 disposed in its path thereby effecting a vacuum in suction dispensing and feeder mechanism 32 downstream therefrom to remove a cap C from magazine M. Feeder mechanism 32 which is driven by drive assembly 33' in timed relationship with conveyor chain 28 so that a cap C is indexed over a container B passing thereunder. Cap conveyor chain 34, which comprises a plurality of alternately spaced apart gripper assemblies 42 and resilient foam pressure pads 48, is driven in timed relationship so that opened jaws are presented to receive the grip the leading tab portions of each cap indexed over a moving container B and thereafter move each cap along at the same speed that the container is pushed along therebelow with the following resilient foam pad 48 pressed against the trailing tab portion F. The opening and closing of the jaws 43, 45 are effected by cam 40, follower 44, and spring 46 and release of the cap C by the suction feeder mechanism 32 is effected by actuation of a second switch to release the vacuum thereof as hereinabove described.

Synchronized advancement of the container B and its cap C to gluing station 50 is then effected with the laterally projecting tab portions F of cap C passing between glue wheels 54 and pressure rollers 58 as shown in detail in FIG. 8, whereby a line of glue G is applied to the under side of side tab portions F of cap C shown in FIG. 9.

Container B and cap C are then simultaneously advanced beneath beveled folding wheels 74 folding the side tab portions as shown in FIG. 10. Container B and cap C arenext advanced together to drying zone 75 at which point folding of side tab portions F against side edges of container B is accomplished by the inner runs of endless belts 76 as shown in detail in FIG. 11. As container B and cap C are passed between belts 76, a yieldable but constant pressure is applied to the folded side tab portions F during drying and setting of the glue G, this pressure being effected by the plurality of spring loaded pulleys 86 pressing against belts 76 as hereinabove described.

As container B and cap C depart from the area between belts 76 cam follower 44 rides up on ramp 47 to thereby urge jaws 43, 45 apart and release the grip on leading tab portion F of cap C. Container B and cap C are then transferred from conveyor chain 28 to a further conveyor member 94, which as disclosed is in the form of a flat belt trained over rollers 95, 96.

Upon being transferred onto conveyor belt 94 container B encounters finger block 125 onguide rail 124 which constrains passage thereof to a deviating course afforded by arcuate bowed out portion 125 of the opposite guide rail 124 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 13. In deviating from the straight and normal path container B is rotated 90 so that the leading and trailing portions thereof are changed to side portions with respect to the packaging apparatus 10.

Container B and cap C are thereafter advanced to second gluing and drying stations 150 and 175, respectively, where the operations at stations 50 and are repeated on the laterally projecting tab portions and complete package is provided.

As is clear from FIG. 14, leading and trailing tab portions F after rotation are folded with glue G applied to the underside of laterally projecting tab portions F in the manner shown in FIG. 15. The container B in FIG. 16 is shown with the last two tab portions F of cap C folded against the adjacent side edges of container B.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularly, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in details of construction and accommodation and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for continuously forming marketable produce packages comprising a plurality of in-line operating stations including:

a. an accumulating station upon which produce-filled containers may be deposited and advanced therealong;

b. a cover applying station including a cap supply source, means for individually removing a cap from said supply source and indexing said cap directly over a filled container passing thereunder all in timed relationship;

c. a first gluing station including means for applying glue to a pair of laterally projecting tab portions of each cap passing thereby and means for deflecting and partially folding said laterally projecting tab portions downwardly after glue has been applied thereto;

(1. a first glue setting station including pressure means adapted to completely fold said laterally projecting tab portions of each passing cap against adjacent side edges of the container associated therewith, said pressure means also being adapted to apply a constant but yieldable pressure against the tab portions folded thereby so that the glue is firmly set against said adjacent side edges;

e. a container rotating station provided with means for rotating each container so that leading and trailing tab portions of each cap are shifted to laterally projecting positions;

f. a second gluing station including means for applying glue to said tab portions shifted to laterally projecting positions passing thereby and means for defleeting and partially folding said shifted tab portions downwardly after glue has been applied thereto; and

g. a second glue setting station including pressure means adapted to completely fold said shifted tab portions of each passing cap against adjacent side edges of the container associated therewith; said accumulating station being characterized in that it comprises a pair of laterally spaced belt members serving as means for supporting and advancing containers deposited thereon and a control gate which is periodically opened to allow transfer of a single container from said accumulating station to said cover applying station and with auxiliary container support means extending for the length of said accumulating station, said cover applying station, said first gluing station and said first glue setting station except for an area immediate to said control gate allowing for its opening and closing;

said apparatus further comprising first container conveyor means extending from just downstream of said control gate, through said cap applying station, and said first gluing and glue setting stations, and including a plurality of spaced pusher means for advancing a container transferred thereto, and

cap conveyor means extending above and parallel to said first container conveyor means from just downstream from said cap supply source and through said first gluing and glue setting stations with said cap conveyor means including a plurality of spaced apart leading and trailing cap engaging members of which said leading cap engaging members each comprise a gripper assembly including a pair of hinged jaws and a spring element biasing said jaws to a normally closed position.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 characterized in that fixed cam means are provided adjacent the upstream end of said cap conveyor means by which cam follower means provided on one end of one of said jaws may be urged to open in opposition to said spring element.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 characterized in that said trailing cap engaging members are in the form of resilient foam pads adapted to press trailing tab portions of caps passing thereunder down against the container associated therewith.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 characterized in that said first container conveyor means, and said cap conveyor means are individual endless rotary drive means and are driven in timed relationship with each other so that caps and containers are indexed over each other and advanced along together at the same speed.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 characterized in that said control gate is driven in timed relationship with said first container conveyor means and said cap conveyor means so that as said gate is opened to allow transfer of a container from said accumulating station by said belt members to said cap applying station, a pusher means of said first container conveyor means approaches said transferred container to move it along.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 characterized in that said means for individually removing a cap from said supply source comprises an oscillating arm with a suction head on the free end thereof and which arm is driven in timed relationship with said first container conveyor means and said cap conveyor means by a common drive so that a cap may be removed from said cap source, lowered over a container moving thereunder, confronted by opened jaws on said cap conveyor means and gripped thereby, all in timed relationship.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 characterized in that switch means is situated in the immediate vicinity of the transfer point and in the path of a container and is effective upon contact by said container to produce a vacuum means for removing a cap from said supply source.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 characterized in that said first gluing station comprises a pair of laterally spaced wells on opposite sides of said first container conveyor means and downstream from said cover applying station, each of said glue wells having a glue wheel rotatably driven within a chamber and a portion thereof extending out of the top of said well to apply glue to the undersurface of a cap tab portion passing thereover.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 characterized in that said glue wheels are power driven by transmission means including a slip clutch assembly whereby said clutch assembly is adapted to slip in the event that the glue wheel associated therewith encounters rotary resistance due to hardened glue in its well.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 characterized in that said slip clutch assembly includes an input drive shaft with a metal disc secured thereon, a fiber friction disc resiliently biased thereagainst to normally supply drive to said glue wheel, but to slip in the event that the glue wheel is held fast by hardened glue.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 characterized in that said means for folding said laterally projecting tab portions to which glue has been applied includes wheel members with beveled side faces for partially deflecting and folding said tab portions with glue applied thereto downwardly toward adjacent sides of the container associated therewith.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 characterized in that said first glue setting station is downstream from said gluing station and comprises a pair of rotatably driven endless belts of substantial length, each including an inner run yieldably urged inwardly and adapted to press against folded glue-applied tab portions passing thereagainst to firmly hold said tab portions against the adjacent sides of containers associated therewith during setting of the glue.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 characterized in that said cap conveyor means includes second cam means in the form of plates adjacent the downstream end of said glue setting station whereby said cam follower means of said gripper assembly are urged to open and release a tab portion heretofore gripped thereby.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13 characterized in that said auxiliary support means and said first container conveyor means terminate a short distance past the downstream end of said first glue setting station and a second container conveyor means in line with said first container conveyor means, said first gluing station and said first glue setting station commences just clear of the free edge of each of said pusher means of said first container conveyor means to which a capped container may be transferred.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 characterized in that said container conveyor means comprises an endless flat belt.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15 characterized in that said rotating station is disposed at the upstream end of said second container conveyor means and comprises a straight guide rail portion along one side of the path of the containers, said straight guide rail portion having a finger block secured thereon and projecting into said path, and an arcuate guide rail portion extending along the other side of the path of the containers and outwardly from said path whereby a container striking said finger block will be deflected toward said arcuate guide rail portion and rotated 90 so that leading and trailing tab portions of a capped container will be shifted to laterally projecting positions.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 characterized in that said arcuate guide rail portion extends from 10 a first straight portion to a second straight portion in line with each other whereby a container with glued on leading and trailing cap tab portions is directed between said second gluing and glue setting stations.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 characterized in that said pair of endless belts with inner runs urged inwardly against folded glue-applied tab portions passing thereby are yieldably pressed against lateral tab portions by a plurality of spring loaded slideably mounted idler pulleys.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 18 characterized in that said pair of endless belts are circular in cross-section. 

1. Apparatus for continuously forming marketable produce packages comprising a plurality of in-line operating stations including: a. an accumulating station upon which produce-filled containers may be deposited and advanced therealong; b. a cover applying station including a cap supply source, means for individually removing a cap from said supply source and indexing said cap directly over a filled container passing thereunder all in timed relationship; c. a first gluing station including means for applying glue to a pair of laterally projecting tab portions of each cap passing thereby and means for deflecting and partially folding said laterally projecting tab portions downwardly after glue has been applied thereto; d. a first glue setting station including pressure means adapted to completely fold said laterally projecting tab portions of each passing cap against adjacent side edges of the container associated therewith, said pressure means also being adapted to apply a constant but yieldable pressure against the tab portions folded thereby so that the glue is firmly set against said adjacent side edges; e. a container rotating station provided with means for rotating each container 90* so that leading and trailing tab portions of each cap are shifted to laterally projecting positions; f. a second gluing station including means for applying glue to said tab portions shifted to laterally projecting positions passing thereby and means for deflecting and partially folding said shifted tab portions downwardly after glue has been applied thereto; and g. a second glue setting station including pressure means adapted to completely fold said shifted tab portions of each passing cap against adjacent side edges of the container associated therewith; said accumulating station being characterized in that it comprises a pair of laterally spaced belt members serving as means for supporting and advancing containers deposited thereon and a control gate which is periodically opened to allow transfer of a single container from said accumulating station to said cover applying station and with auxiliary container support means extending for the length of said accumulating station, said cover applying station, said first gluing station and said first glue setting station except for an area immediate to said control gate allowing for its opening and closing; said apparatus further comprising first container conveyor means extending from just downstream of said control gate, through said cap applying station, and said first gluing and glue setting stations, and including a plurality of spaced pusher means for advancing a container transferred thereto, and cap conveyor means extending above and parallel to said first container conveyor means from just downstream from said cap supply source and through said first gluing and glue setting stations with said cap conveyor means including a plurality of spaced apart leading and trailing cap engaging members of which said leading cap engaging members each comprise a gripper assembly including a pair of hinged jaws and a spring element biasing said jaws to a normally closed position.
 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 characterized in that fixed cam means are provided adjacent the upstream end of said cap conveyor means by which cam follower means provided on one end of one of said jaws may be urged to open in opposition to said spring element.
 3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 characterized in that said trailing cap engaging members are in the form of resilient foam pads adapted to press trailing tab portions of caps passing thereunder down against the container associated therewith.
 4. The aPparatus as recited in claim 3 characterized in that said first container conveyor means, and said cap conveyor means are individual endless rotary drive means and are driven in timed relationship with each other so that caps and containers are indexed over each other and advanced along together at the same speed.
 5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 characterized in that said control gate is driven in timed relationship with said first container conveyor means and said cap conveyor means so that as said gate is opened to allow transfer of a container from said accumulating station by said belt members to said cap applying station, a pusher means of said first container conveyor means approaches said transferred container to move it along.
 6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 characterized in that said means for individually removing a cap from said supply source comprises an oscillating arm with a suction head on the free end thereof and which arm is driven in timed relationship with said first container conveyor means and said cap conveyor means by a common drive so that a cap may be removed from said cap source, lowered over a container moving thereunder, confronted by opened jaws on said cap conveyor means and gripped thereby, all in timed relationship.
 7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 characterized in that switch means is situated in the immediate vicinity of the transfer point and in the path of a container and is effective upon contact by said container to produce a vacuum means for removing a cap from said supply source.
 8. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 characterized in that said first gluing station comprises a pair of laterally spaced wells on opposite sides of said first container conveyor means and downstream from said cover applying station, each of said glue wells having a glue wheel rotatably driven within a chamber and a portion thereof extending out of the top of said well to apply glue to the undersurface of a cap tab portion passing thereover.
 9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 characterized in that said glue wheels are power driven by transmission means including a slip clutch assembly whereby said clutch assembly is adapted to slip in the event that the glue wheel associated therewith encounters rotary resistance due to hardened glue in its well.
 10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 characterized in that said slip clutch assembly includes an input drive shaft with a metal disc secured thereon, a fiber friction disc resiliently biased thereagainst to normally supply drive to said glue wheel, but to slip in the event that the glue wheel is held fast by hardened glue.
 11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 characterized in that said means for folding said laterally projecting tab portions to which glue has been applied includes wheel members with beveled side faces for partially deflecting and folding said tab portions with glue applied thereto downwardly toward adjacent sides of the container associated therewith.
 12. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 characterized in that said first glue setting station is downstream from said gluing station and comprises a pair of rotatably driven endless belts of substantial length, each including an inner run yieldably urged inwardly and adapted to press against folded glue-applied tab portions passing thereagainst to firmly hold said tab portions against the adjacent sides of containers associated therewith during setting of the glue.
 13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 characterized in that said cap conveyor means includes second cam means in the form of plates adjacent the downstream end of said glue setting station whereby said cam follower means of said gripper assembly are urged to open and release a tab portion heretofore gripped thereby.
 14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13 characterized in that said auxiliary support means and said first container conveyor means terminate a short distance past the downstream end of said first glue setting statiOn and a second container conveyor means in line with said first container conveyor means, said first gluing station and said first glue setting station commences just clear of the free edge of each of said pusher means of said first container conveyor means to which a capped container may be transferred.
 15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 characterized in that said container conveyor means comprises an endless flat belt.
 16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15 characterized in that said rotating station is disposed at the upstream end of said second container conveyor means and comprises a straight guide rail portion along one side of the path of the containers, said straight guide rail portion having a finger block secured thereon and projecting into said path, and an arcuate guide rail portion extending along the other side of the path of the containers and outwardly from said path whereby a container striking said finger block will be deflected toward said arcuate guide rail portion and rotated 90* so that leading and trailing tab portions of a capped container will be shifted to laterally projecting positions.
 17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 characterized in that said arcuate guide rail portion extends from a first straight portion to a second straight portion in line with each other whereby a container with glued on leading and trailing cap tab portions is directed between said second gluing and glue setting stations.
 18. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 characterized in that said pair of endless belts with inner runs urged inwardly against folded glue-applied tab portions passing thereby are yieldably pressed against lateral tab portions by a plurality of spring loaded slideably mounted idler pulleys.
 19. The apparatus as recited in claim 18 characterized in that said pair of endless belts are circular in cross-section. 